Alabama

Alabama football can’t even hold a real spring game due to injuries: What kind of team can it field in 2025?

Published

1 year ago

April 9, 2025

Alabama football can’t even hold a real spring game due to injuries: What kind of team can it field in 2025?

Kalen DeBoer knows what A-Day means to the Alabama football fanbase. It’s why the Crimson Tide isn’t following in the footsteps of Texas, Nebraska and USC and outright canceling its spring game.

So Alabama football will host fans for a spring football event Saturday afternoon. A game? More like a practice, one that lets DeBoer “show off (his) guys and let (his) guys do their thing.”

But should that be cause for panic for the 2025 season?

To DeBoer, it’s not about the overarching storyline of college football teams using spring games as a transfer portal showcase – even with the Crimson Tide’s A-Day festivities not being televised Saturday.

To DeBoer, he said it’s about control. It’s about having the ability to stop things when he wants to, tinker when he wants to tinker and ensure quality reps over everything else.

But when talking about A-Day in late March and what “the game” itself would look like, control was not first on DeBoer’s mind.

“It’s just that we’re very careful,” DeBoer said.

And as Alabama’s spring practice schedule rolled along, it was clear why “careful” was the first thing on DeBoer’s mind.

Alabama football injury list proves too much for ‘spring game’

Alabama has been ravaged by injuries this spring.

On offense, it starts with tight end. Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis and Marshall Pritchett have each had their spring shortened with injuries. And with reinforcements not arriving until the summer in freshman Kaleb Edwards, the Crimson Tide is down to five tight ends, only one of whom is a scholarship option: Jay Lindsey.

On the offensive line, Alabama has been without starting left tackle Kadyn Proctor, leading to a mishmash of players: from freshman guard Michael Carroll and freshman tackle Jackson Lloyd, to guard-turned-tackle Olaus Alinen and Ball State transfer Arkel Anugwom, filling in the gaps.

Add a “couple of nicks” to wide receiver Ryan Williams that will likely keep him out Saturday, and you have an offense that is projected to look much different on A-Day than it is expected to look this fall.

On defense, it’s the same story.

Projected starters Deontae Lawson, Domani Jackson, Keon Sabb, Justin Jefferson and James Smith are all either out or limited this spring, as are punter Alex Asparuhov and long snapper David Bird.

At some positions, the Crimson Tide has answers. Alabama has depth in the defensive backfield in players like Zavier Mincey, Dijon Lee, Ivan Taylor and Cameron Calhoun. But that is not the same across the board.

While Alabama is overflowing with options at wolf linebacker, the middle linebacker spots are sparse without Lawson and Jefferson. Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green and returners Cayden Jones and QB Reese are the only scholarship players that separate the Crimson Tide from true freshmen Luke Metz, Duke Johnson and Abduall Sanders Jr.

The same can be said on the interior of the defensive line. But as spring has continued, praise for players like Edric Hill and Kelby Collins, who is cross-training at both bandit and inside, has lessened the blow of Smith being limited.

Does Alabama have a depth problem?

Alabama can breath a sigh of relief.

Most of its spring injuries come at spots with proven starters or enough experience to project players as significant contributors come fall: left tackle, tight end, defensive tackle, Mike and Will linebacker, safety and cornerback. And because of spring, the Crimson Tide seems to be building much more depth than it would have had if it had a healthy roster.

But the question remains.

While Alabama is focused on position battles at left guard, at quarterback and husky, could the main question out of spring be if the Crimson Tide has enough depth to contend?

In the world of the transfer portal, it’s a question many programs across the country face. And at Alabama, it’s rearing its head especially on the offensive line and at both Will and Mike linebacker.

As the roster stands, Alabama doesn’t seem to have much room for error, something that seems clear to DeBoer as he prepares for a “very careful” A-Day.

Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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Alabama

Alabama juvenile is charged with murder of missing 10-year-old girl found dead at a home

Published

5 hours ago

April 20, 2026

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Alabama juvenile is charged with murder of missing 10-year-old girl found dead at a home

A “joyful” 10-year-old Alabama girl was found dead soon after being reported missing — with another juvenile charged with her murder.

Katheryn Bigbee, 10, was reported missing just before 11 p.m. Friday, when police were called to an undisclosed address in Calhoun County, AL.com reported.

“Officers responded immediately to the residence,” Piedmont Police Chief Nathan Johnson said in a statement. “They tragically discovered a deceased juvenile inside the home.”

Katheryn Bigbee, 10, was found dead in an Alabama home on Friday night, with another juvenile soon arrested. Piedmont Elementary School

It remains unclear where the house was, or whether it was the young girl’s family home — but another juvenile was soon taken into custody and hit with murder charges.

Their identity and connection to Bigbee have not been disclosed due to their age.

Bigbee’s cause of death also remains unclear, with police saying the investigation was still ongoing.

“Our family has been torn to pieces, and we have lost the most amazing, sweetest little girl,” relative Blake Trammel wrote on Facebook.

“She was a light in any room she walked into. I cannot express the pain, guilt, and emptiness that has come from all of this. We don’t have answers, only more questions,” he added.

The girl’s school also recalled her as a beloved member of its community.

“Our entire Piedmont Elementary School family is grieving as we remember a sweet little girl who brought smiles, kindness, and a bright light to our halls each day,” the school said in a statement.

“Katheryn had a joyful, spunky personality that made her truly special,” the school said. “She was an enthusiastic reader and will be remembered for the happiness she shared so freely.”

“She will always be a part of our school family, and her memory will live on in the hearts of her classmates, teachers, and all who knew and loved her.”

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Alabama

Alabama AHSAA softball key dates and top teams approaching the 2026 playoffs

Published

17 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

Alabama AHSAA softball key dates and top teams approaching the 2026 playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Alabama’s AHSAA softball playoffs are just around the corner with three of the state’s top teams ranked in the national Top 15.

The No. 5 Orange Beach [AL] Makos, No. 10 Thompson [Alabaster, AL] Warriors, and No. 15 Wetumpka [AL] Indians are all ranked in the most recent edition of the MaxPreps Top 50 with the start of Alabama’s postseason less than two weeks away.

Orange Beach was previously ranked No. 1 before losing to the South Warren [Bowling Green, KY] Spartans last week. Both teams were undefeated going into the contest, and the Barbers Hill [Mt. Belvieu, TX] Eagles took the Makos’ place at the top of the rankings following the loss.

WATCH: ALABAMA AHSAA SOFTBALL ON THE NFHS NETWORK

Key dates for the Alabama AHSAA softball playoffs

DATE	PLAYOFF DEADLINES
5/1-5/26 Advertisement	Area Tournaments
5/11-14/26	Regional Tournaments
5/18-22/26	State Tournaments Advertisement

National Top 50 contenders by classification

Alabama’s three nationally-ranked teams all compete in different classifications.

Class 7A

The Thompson Warriors are 34-1-2, and they compete in the AHSAA’s top-level Class 7A ranks. The team’s only loss is to the No. 15 Wetumpka Indians in a 3-2 setback on April 3.

Class 6A

Wetumpka is 34-5, and as noted above, they are the only team to beat Thompson so far.

Class 4A

Orange Beach is the state’s top-ranked team despite competing at the AHSAA’s Class 4A level. Their loss to South Warren of Kentucky in a 6-1 setback on April 9 ended a 45-game win streak at the time. The Makos had only allowed 25 runs all season prior to the relative outburst by the Spartans.

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Alabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ

Published

1 day ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Alabama edge to pattern his game after 2-time Super Bowl Champ

Photo comes via Rodger Champion of Alabama athletics

How electric could Alabama football be on defense this season?

Alabama edge updates development of 4-star inside linebacker

The answer comes down to how many players Kane Wommack can produce to affect opposing quarterbacks in the pocket.

He returns Yhonzae Pierre, a fourth-year edge rusher, following a season where he collected eight sacks (team-high), 14.5 tackles for loss (team-high), nine quarterback hurries (team-high), and three forced fumbles. Pierre will draw much attention from offensive coaches; however, the Crimson Tide has a sophomore ready to help him on the outside.

Justin Hill, a former four-star from Cincinnati, Ohio, has made it his mission to become a complete pass rusher.

Alabama edge Justin Hill (#8) is modeling his game after a former two-time Suer Bowl Champion.

3/25/25 MFB Spring Practice
Alabama Linebacker Justin Hill (8)
Photo by Kent Gidley

He provided some excitement in 15 games last year, posting 10 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.

Former 4-star edge “will stand out” at Alabama in 2026 season, per Yhonzae Pierre

Who is Justin Hill modeling his game after?

The 6-foot-3, 244-pounder had a good spring, and the coaching staff looks at him as someone that brings speed, power, and edge-bending abilities to harass quarterbacks. Hill mentioned to reporters after A-Day that he wants to ‘go through’ quarterbacks in generating pressure.

He also wants to pattern his game after a former two-time Super Bowl Champion.

Hill detailed the former two-time Butkus Award winner he’s emulating.

“I am watching guys like Von Miller,” Hill said. “I’m watching a lot of speed to power guys.”

Hill stated Nik Bonitto of the Denver Broncos as another National Football League pass rusher he is studying. Bonitto has 37 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Broncos – including a career-high 14 sacks in 2025.

Miller is one of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the league. He has 138.5 career sacks, including seven seasons with 10-plus sacks.

Miller has two Super Bowl rings, a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player honor, three first-team All-Pro honors, eight Pro Bowl nods, and is on the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade Team.

Hill learned to ‘cut it loose’ as an edge rusher from Pierre, so the combination of that and studying film on Miller should prepare him to be a force in the fall.

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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.

Stephen Smith is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama.
He is a seasoned writer that has covered Alabama football for Touchdown Alabama Magazine since 2009. Smith has extensive knowledge within the program, which has made him among the most respected journalist in his field. Throughout his career, Smith has been featured on ESPN and several other marquee outlets as an analyst.

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